YARMOUTH, N.S. – The new ferry service from Maine to Nova Scotia has completed its first trip with passengers.
The vessel operated by Nova Star Cruises arrived in Yarmouth Friday after departing from Portland, Maine on Thursday.
Among the passengers on board for the maiden voyage was Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood.
The new service re-establishes the transportation link between Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States that stopped in 2009.
Mark Amundsen, he CEO of Nova Star Cruises Ltd., told Global News about 300 people were on-board for the maiden voyage, along with 80 vehicles. He estimated the cruise was comprised of 25 per cent foot traffic and 75 per cent vehicle traffic, of which there were three big rigs while the rest were regular cars.
He said things were “phenomenal”, and he was glad the turnout for the first voyage was small so the company can work out any potential issues for future crossings.
“It was the perfect amount because if we had the full amount we could handle…you have to test, this is at testing platform right now for the summer to come,” he said.
Amundsen said the month of May is typically less busy than usual, and he believes more people will use the service during the summer months.
“We have to wait until school lets out and that’s when passengers really start to flow,” he said.
The 161-metre cruise ferry is scheduled to make daily round-trip crossings until Nov. 2.
The company is getting help in the form of $21 million over seven years from the provincial government.
With files from Global News reporter Julia Wong
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